An inside look at Chicago real estate
By Dream Town
There wasn’t much activity in green building last year. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) project growth was only 3% for 2011. But this year the eco-construction sector of real estate is expected to show a noticeable recovery, especially where it involves retrofitting existing buildings with new green features.
By Dream Town
Temperatures in Chicago are starting to creep up again. And, so are those energy bills. . . unless you use these 9 easy ways to help lower home cooling costs this summer. Tip 1: Keep the shades drawn during the day Especially in rooms that get direct sunlight, pulling the…
By Dream Town
A new profile about “Chicago’s greenest home” was published in Inman News this week, written by Mary Umberger, a longtime follower of the local housing market and reporter of Chicago real estate stories. In her latest piece, she delves into the world of state-of-the-art gadgetry and ground-breaking green construction with a visit…
By Dream Town
Highlighting your home’s green features can help you stand out from the competition in the home selling process. Right along with a home’s traditional selling points like granite countertops or a luxury master suite, talking about the sustainable, energy-saving features of your home might really appeal to buyers who are…
By Dream Town
Greenbuild International Conference and Expo has returned to Chicago and it’s bigger and better than ever. This year’s schedule includes a Residential Summit, Affordable Housing Summit, LEED workshops, and a number of educational sessions. The event is being held next week in McCormick Place’s enormous West exposition hall, which will…
By Dream Town
Prefab construction is a well-known alternative to traditional building that can really cut the cost of a brand new home. It relies on pre-manufactured materials and modular designs created in bulk to trim down expenses and reduce waste. Green prefab incorporates energy-saving mechanicals, renewable elements and other eco-friendly factors for…
By Dream Town
Today’s Green Tip from Dream Town: Property Assessed Clean Energy Bonds or PACE Bonds One of the main challenges the green movement faces is retrofitting existing homes with more energy efficient (i.e. more green) upgrades. With many homeowners doing all they can to pay the mortgage and stay afloat, coming…
By Dream Town
Today’s Green Tip has to do with a term that’s been around for awhile, but has recently popped up more often as the Green Movement picks up steam. To put it simply, “R Factor” or “R Value” is a rating for the insulation in your home. Your floor has an…
By Yuval Degani
At Dream Town we realize the value of all things Green. We are always on the lookout for green incentives and tips we can pass along to further the cause. An excellent place to start is the website for Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) www.dsireusa.org. They…
By Dream Town
With a lot of focus on green building and on how to make single-family homes more eco-friendly, condo owners are often left out when tips are being handed out about how to save money on energy costs. Today’s Green Tip is something any homeowner can use! Hot Water Circulating Pumps…
By Dream Town
Home Energy Rater (HER) is a relatively new profession. An HER is someone you can hire to rate your home’s “greenness.” They also offer tips and tricks for making your existing home more energy-efficient and sustainable. The advice they give can lead to a lifetime of cost savings and a…
By Dream Town
In recent times, people have shown increasing interest in Green Certified properties. As there is a limited supply of green home listings on the market, many buyers and homeowners are turning to the next best option: retro-fitting an existing home to make it more energy efficient. Curious how you can…